Health Care Costs For Employers Could Be Coming Down

BOSTON (CBS) – Employers may find some relief in health care costs next year, according to a survey from Mercer.

The survey finds that a combination of health management and lower utilization of services could slowdown the rise in costs in 2012.

Susan Connolly at Mercer’s Boston office tells WBZ that health care costs should rise about 7 percent next year. She says employers hope to get that down to closer to 5.5 percent, after they make plan design changes such as moving employees to lower-cost plans, and increasing deductibles.